Easter 2011 - Lead Me To The Cross

This year Easter hit me like a ton of bricks. I processed it in ways I never had before. I am still processing it and plan and putting some of those thoughts down on this blogisphere, but that will be another day.

For today, I just want to share how we celebrated the day. Because it was a GOOD day ...

We started off with baskets ...
... of COURSE!
They dug into that candy so fast my head spun!
Then the sugar kicked in and THEIR heads were spinning!
The bunny brought some bling this year!
Which was a hit.
Then we stepped outside to take some pictures in their Easter dresses.

Sophie, of course, hammed it up for the camera.
While Hattie, of course, tried to avoid it at all costs.

Then we headed off to church. But BEFORE we left, we had a mini-church session at home.

At breakfast, I was trying to explaing what Easter really means to the girls. I told that, while the bunny is fun and brings good loot, the real reason we celebrate Easter is because of Jesus. I explained how Jesus had gone to the cross and died so that we could be forgiven of our sins. And then, the following conversation took place at our kitchen table"

Mommy: THEN, on Easter, Jesus came back to life! He was alive again!

Sophie: Why?

Mommy: So that WE can live again after WE die. Jesus took away our sins so that WE can go to Heaven too.

Sophie: Heaven? Just like Auntie Paula?

Mommy: Yes, Honey, JUST like Auntie Paula!

Sophie: YAY! I want to go to Heaven TOO!!!

And, as my mommy heart grew elevnty-seven sizes, I wiped my tears and bowed my knees and asked God to give me whatever it would take to fan that tiny flame into the full blown wild fire of True Salvation.

My truest quest and greatest mission field in this life is right here in my home. I want my children - all four of them - to know Him and to find His salvation to be True. If I can live my life to beat a path for them to follow that leads to the Cross of Jesus, I will have done what I was born to do.

Lord Jesus, let it be. Let.It.BE.

As we were leaving church I remembered that the wall out front has a cross on it and I took the girls there to take pictures, so that I could remember the day and that sweet conversation. Sophie was hungry and tired and grumpy, so could barely be bothered to stand there long, but as I took this picture, I prayed a song that has become a sweet favorite of mine.

Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out.
Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down.
Rid me of myself, I belong to You.
O lead me ...

Lead me to the Cross!